The work conducted by Manbhaw Charitable Trust falls within 3 broad categories:
Inreach
This refers to activities where the Trust has been approached for help. People hear of the Trust either by word-of-mouth or by referral from individuals or other NGO’s. They apply to the Trust for help, usually in person, the request is assessed and help granted if the Trust’s objectives are aligned with the help requested.
Outreach
Outreach takes the form of targeted help by the Trust on behalf of donors. In most instances one or more donors approach the Trust with a desire to extend help to a certain demographic or people with a particular need, say for example to help special needs children or to help people with mobility issues. The Trust then looks for individuals or institutions working in those fields and assesses their operations on behalf of the donors. Once all criteria have been satisfied the donors extend funding to the recipients through Manbhaw Charitable Trust.
Partnerships
There are instances when the Trust is unable to help, either because of the size of the requirement or because it falls outside the scope of activities of the Trust. In such cases we actively work with the beneficiary to introduce them to people and institutions who may be able to support them and also help them with the preparation of their applications.
Here are some examples of the work undertaken by Manbhaw Charitable Trust.
Elderly
In 2003 Manbhaw financed the setting up of an Old Person’s Home (OPH) in a rented house with the active support of two young women from a self-help group. The first resident was welcomed in early January 2004 and the OPH shifted to larger premises in 2008 and shifted focus to only taking in women residents. The residents are provided with all their daily needs and medical care, with a doctor coming in at regular intervals. The OPH arranges for the proper rites and cremation needs should a resident pass away.
The OPH is now self funded and continues to provide shelter to abandoned older women.
Women
The Trust has provided sewing machines and a teacher to enable poor women in a local slum to earn through sewing.
The Trust has provided and continues to provide micro-finance to women who wish to make cottage industry goods in order to create or supplement their income, either by way of cash grants or by the provision of raw material.
The Trust provides medical aid on a monthly basis to a widowed woman and her daughter (sadly, now passed) who were infected by the HIV virus. The recipient is in the best health her condition will allow.
Children
In support of children with special needs, the Trust contributes monthly to Prayatna for People With Special Needs, an organisation with a deep dedication towards creating a difference in the lives of people with physical and developmental challenges.
The Trust contributes towards monthly salaries of teachers at Saraswati Anath Shikshan Ashram, who teach orphaned boys aged 6-18 years.
The Trust also assists in children focused activities such as providing shoes and clothing to street kids, providing food and basic educational support for young children of migrant workers and help for poor children in villages around Pune.